Self-adjusting book holder



p 12, 1967 A. c. FORRE'STER 3,341,166

SELF-ADJUSTING BOOK HOLDER Filed Sept. 9, 1965 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I 2 4 68 I I "WW l '1 ii ll f MmmW l 52 Arthur 6. Forresfer INVENTOR.

1-37 W MW Se t. 12, 1967- A. c. FORRESTER 3,341,165

$ELF-ADJUSTING BOOK HOLDER Filed Sept. 9, 1965 f I 2 Sh -Sheet 2 32 ,A\'? I I 2 36 Arthur C. Forrester I INVENTOR.

BY WWW mm United States Patent Ofiice 3,341,156 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 ABSTRACT THE DISCLOSURE A book holder adapted to be utilized with a piano or the like to maintain a music book in open position wherein the book holder is self-adjusting to compensate for books of varying dimensions.

The present invention relates to a book holding device, and more particularly to a device adapted to be associated with a piano, organ, or the like, and including selfadjusting spring means therein for holding books, such as music books, of any height or thickness in opened position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a book holder of improved construction which is useful for holding open books, hymnals or the like on instruments such as pianos or organs, or may be positioned on any substantially flat surface if so desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-adjusting book holder which includes means for retaining virtually any size book therein under tension in open position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a self-adjusting holder for books or the like which is of relatively simple construction and which may be easily fabricated from readily available materials.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of the book holding device of the present invention mounted in place on an instrument;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view illustrating the various components of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, reference numeral generally denotes the self-adjusting book holder comprising the present invention. The book holder 10 comprises a base 12 which is generally rectangular in shape and includes a front mounted upstanding flange member 14 which is integral with the base 12 and extends the full width thereof. The front surface 16 of base 12 is tapered inwardly from the leading edge 18 thereof, and the front surface 20 of flange 14 is also tapered inwardly and upwardly, the surface 20 constituting a continuation of surface 16. A pair of mounting holes 22 and 24 are provided in surface 20, the mounting holes being provided to mount the lamp generally denoted by reference numeral 26 thereon.

A pair of legs 28 and 30 are provided, the legs being mounted on the bottom of base 12 in a conventional manner, for example, by mounting screws or wood glue or the like. The legs 28 and 30 are provided to allow the book holder 10 to be positioned on a generally flat surface 32, such as the top of an instrument such as piano 34. The legs 28 and 30 are especially necessary since instruments such as pianos or organs usually include a strip such as strip 36 on the top surface 32 thereof. Thus, it will be appreciated that the legs 28 and 30 allow the book holder 10 to straddle the strip 36. The base member 12 includes a pair of mounting holes 38 and 40 therein, the mounting holes being adapted to receive threaded connecting means such as wood screws 42 therein in order to fixedly mount the book holder 10 on the surface 32.

The book holder 10 further includes the back wall 44 which wall is connected to base 12 by conventional attaching means and is slanted or tilted slightly rearwardly of the vertical on base 12. The back wall 44 is generally box-like member having an opening or channel 46 therein, the channel 46 extending substantially the full width and entire height of wall 44, as may be observed in FIG- URES 2 and 3, for example. A flexible springboard generally denoted by reference numeral 48 is fastened to the front of wall 44 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The springboard 48 is preferably fabricated from a relatively rigid resilient material such as plastic or wood, and is substantially in the shape of an inverted U, including leg portions 50 and 52 and top portion 54 joining legs 50 and 52. The joining portion 54 includes mounting holes 56 therein, in which are positioned fastening means such as wood screws 58, thereby fixing the upper portion of joining portion 54 to the wall 44. A mounting block 60, which mouting block is merely an elongate strip of incompressible material such as hard plastic or wood, and which is not fixed to either wall 44 or springboard 48, is placed between the wall 44 and springboard 48 as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, in order to provide a fulcrum point for the springboard 48. Thus, it will be apparent, in viewing FIGURE 2, that the springboard 48 due to the connection of the upper portion thereof to wall 44 and the placement of mounting block 60 thereunder, and further due to its resiliency may be flexed inwardly toward wall 44 as indicated by the ghost line 62 in FIG- URE 2. The mounting block 60 has a forwardly inclined front face 64 thereon in order to provide flush mounting with springboard 48.

The book holder 10 further includes a top generally denoted by reference numeral 66. The top 66 includes the upper generally rectangular portion 68, having a depending flange 70 integrally connected to the front portion thereof. The flange 70 extends the full width of portion 68 and includes an inwardly tapered face 72. A pair of legs 74 and 76 are attached to the upper rectangular portion 68, the legs being generally rectangular and of equal length and attached to the rectangular portion 68 by conventional attaching means. The legs 74 and 76 are adapted to be received in the channel 46 and vertically slidable therein. Thus, it will be apparent that as the portion 68 is pulled upwardly, the legs 74 and 76 will slide vertically upwardly in channel 46, and conversely, as the portion 68 is released, the legs will slide downwardly in channel 46 until the portion 68 contacts the top of wall 44. This movement may be better appreciated by viewing the position generally denoted by reference numeral 78 of top 66 shown in ghost in FIGURE 2.

In view of the above description, the use of the device should be readily apparent. A book such as hymnal 80 may be positioned in the book holder in open position for retention therein in the following manner. The upper portion of the book is first positioned behind flange 70 against the bottom of the upper portion 68 and the top 66 moved upwardly by pressure of the book thereagainst. This will allow a book of any height to be positioned in the holder 10, since the top 66 will move upwardly in response to pressure from the book as the legs 74 and 76 slide out of channel 46. When the top 66 is moved up high enough for the bottom of the book to clear the flange 14, the bottom portion of the book is then moved against the legs 50 and 52 of springboard 48. f course, it will be appreciated that themounting block 60 has been first positioned between the wall 44 and springboard 48 in desired position. The mounting block 60 allows the user of the book holder to change or adjust the amount of pressure necessary to be applied to legs 5t and 52 in order to force the book into the book holder. As stated above, the book is forced against legs 50 and 52 until the resiliency thereof is overcome, at which time the legs 50 and 52 will be flexed inwardly as indicated by reference numeral 62 in FIGURE 2. The book is then moved downwardly behind upstanding flange 14, at which time the top 66 will slide down to its final position in place on the top of the book. Thus, it will be appreciated that at this time, the book is retained'behind flanges 79 and 14, the legs 50 and 52, due to the resiliency thereof applying a predetermined amount of force to the rear of the book and thus holding it tightly in place against the flanges 7t) and 14. Further, the mounting 60 will be held in place between wall 44 and flexible springboard 43 by virtue of the force of springboard 48 thereagainst when the book is mounted in the book holder 10. Of course, it will be further appreciated that the book will be in open position at this time so that the user will be able to read the music or other subject matter therein. Further, if the two open portions of the book are uneven, as for example if it is not open to the center thereof, the legs 50 and 52 of springboard 48 will nonetheless apply pressure across the back of the book, one of the legs being flexed inwardly more than the other. Thus, the book will be retained in place in the book holder 10.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 3, it will be observed that the lamp assembly 26 which is mounted on the front surface 16 of base 12 includes a bulb 82 and shield 84. The shield 84 is folded upwardly about the front of the bulb and constitutes a reflector for reflecting the light emitted by bulb 82 upwardly onto the book positioned in the book holder 10. Thus, it will be appreciated that the inwardly tapered surfaces 16 and 20 allow the light to be cast directly on the book held in the holder and eliminate any shadow on the bottom portion thereof, as would occur if the surfaces 16 and 29 were not tapered. Further, the face 72 of flange 70 is inwardly tapered for the same reason. That is, this inward taper allows light to be cast directly on the book, thereby eliminating shadows there- In view of the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated that the book holder constitutes a novel device for holding books or other objects in substantially upright position by the bias supplied by legs 50 and 52 thereagainst. Further, the adjustability of the top 66 allows a book of virtually any height to be positioned in the holder, the flanges 70 and 14 providing a means for retaining the book in open position in the holder. Also, the fact that springboard 48 has separate legs 50 and 52 thereon, each of which is separately flexible toward the back wall 44 allows a book to be positioned in the device whether it is opened to the middle thereof or to the front or rear thereof. Further, the legs 28 and 30 allow the holder to be mounted in straddling position on the top of a piano or organ or the like which conventionally has a strip such as strip 36 thereon, or to be positioned on any substantially flat surface. The use of screws 42 to hold the holder fixedly on the mounting surface 32 allows the book to be placed in the holder 10 with both hands, the book being placed behind flanges 70 against top portion 68 and pushed against legs 50 and 52. However, it should be appreciated that the holder may be merely placed on a supporting surface without being fixedly attached thereto if so desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An improved self-adjusting book holder comprising base means adapted to support a book thereon, means for retaining a book on said base means, vertically adjustable top means for receiving books of various heights in said book holder, and resilient means for applying pressure across the width of the back of a book supported in said base means thereby fixedly holding the book open in the holder whereby a book may be inserted within the holder to be supported in an open position thereby without separate manipulation of said resilient means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises upstanding flange means positioned on the forward edge of said base means and said top means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure applying means includes a pair of resilient springable means positioned to be flexed in response to the entry of a book into said holder.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said book holder includes a back wall mounted on said base means at substantial right angles thereto, said back wall including channel means therein, said top means having leg means thereon, said leg means adapted to be slidably received in said channel means whereby said top means may be vertically adjusted with respect to said base means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pressure applying means comprises a substantially resilient springboard, said springboard fixed at one end to the back wall, the other end of said springboard being free and normally extending toward the front of said base means whereby when a book is positioned in said book holder said springboard will be flexed thereby applying pressure to the book in order to retain it in the holder against said retaining means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said springboard includes a pair of resilient legs thereon.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said top means includes a rigidly secured flange means depending from the forward edge of said top means for contacting and retaining a book in said holder.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said depending flange means includes an inwardly tapered front face thereby eliminating shadows on a book positioned on said holder.

9. The combination of claim 5 including means for adjusting the tension of said springboard.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said adjusting means comprises a mounting block adapted to be positioned between said back wall and said springboard, whereby said mounting block will act as an adjustable fulcrum for said springboard.

11. An improved self-adjusting book holder comprising base means adapted to support a book thereon, means for retaining a book on said base means, vertically adjustable top means for receiving books of various heights in said holder, means for applying pressure across the width of a book supported in said base means thereby fixedly holding the 'book in the holder, said book holder including a back wall mounted on said base means at substantially right angles thereto, said back wall including channel means therein, said top means having leg means thereon, said leg means adapted to be slidably received in said channel means whereby said top means may be vertically adjusted with respect to said base means, said pressure applying means comprising a substantially resilient springboard, said springboard fixed at one end to the back wall, the other end of said springboard being free and normally extending toward the front of said base means whereby when a book is positioned in said book holder said spring board will be flexed thereby applying pressure to the book in order to retain it in the holder against said retaining means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said springboard includes a pair of resilient legs thereon.

13. The combination of claim 11 including means for adjusting the tension of said springboard.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said adjusting means comprises a mounting block adapted to be positioned between said back Wall and said springboard, whereby said mounting block will act as an adjustable fulcrum for said springboard.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS White 248451 Snyder 248-451 McNeil 248-445 Flahive 2.48445 Frost 248-452 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED SELF-ADJUSTING BOOK HOLDER COMPRISING BASE MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A BOOK THEREON, MEANS FOR RETAINING A BOOK ON SAID BASE MEANS, VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TOP MEANS FOR RECEIVING BOOKS OF VARIOUS HEIGHTS IN SAID BOOK HOLDER, AND RESILIENT MEANS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE BACK OF A BOOK SUPPORTED IN SAID BASE MEANS WHEREBY FIXEDLY HOLDING THE BOOK OPEN IN THE HOLDER WHEREBY A BOOK MAY BE INSERTED WITHIN THE HOLDER TO BE SUPPORTED IN AN OPEN POSITION THEREBY WITHOUT SEPARATE MANIPULATION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS. 